Page 865 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 6 April 2022
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does equate to quite a high number of cars off the road in quite a small jurisdiction. I would say to Ms Clay and the Greens: there is still time.
Question put:
That the amendment be agreed to.
The Assembly voted—
|
Ayes 12 |
Noes 5 | |||
|
Ms Berry |
Ms Orr |
Mr Cain | ||
|
Mr Braddock |
Dr Paterson |
Ms Castley | ||
|
Ms Cheyne |
Mr Rattenbury |
Ms Lawder | ||
|
Ms Clay |
Mr Steel |
Mr Milligan | ||
|
Ms Davidson |
Ms Stephen-Smith |
Mr Parton | ||
|
Mr Gentleman |
Ms Vassarotti | |||
Amendment agreed to.
Original question, as amended, resolved in the affirmative.
Domestic Animals Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
Debate resumed from 10 February 2022 on motion by Mr Steel:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
MS LAWDER (Brindabella) (4.32): I rise today to speak on the Domestic Animals Legislation Amendment Bill 2022. This bill legislates the requirement for newly acquired cats to be contained to their premises for their lifetime and all cats to be registered annually in the ACT, similar to what was legislated for dogs last year, and this will begin from 1 July.
The legislation effectively gives the ACT Cat Plan effect and aligns the responsibility of cat owners with that of dog owners. Cats are a very popular pet for many Canberrans, and I know that there are members in this place who have a cat in their family as well. However, I think we can all agree that roaming cats pose a significant threat to native wildlife, which cannot be ignored.
Cats can roam up to one kilometre from their household if they are not contained, and they actively hunt both during the day and the night, favouring animals such as frogs and reptiles that live on the ground, as well as birds. Given the close proximity that many Canberra suburbs have to nature reserves, there is a need for cat containment, to help protect threatened species and species of concern that inhabit these areas.
Research shows that cats have already contributed to the extinction of more than 20 Australian mammals. In Canberra alone, roaming cats each year are estimated to predate on 61,000 native birds, 2,000 native animals, 30,000 native reptiles and 6,000 native frogs.
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